Government: April 2009 Archives

The Hound was hoping against all hope that federal Judge James Zagel would let former Illinois Gov. Rod "Help, I'm a Celebrity and I need a Lawyer' Blagojevich go on that reality show in Costa Rica. Knowing Blago's luck, he would have been eaten by a caiman. For those of you who don't know your reptiles from an Illinois politician, they're the Central American version of an alligator.

Just think: Blago being eaten by a gator's cousin would save us taxpayers a lot of money, his family a lot of grief and money and U.S. attorneys a lot of time they could devote to real criminals, like the guys who keep on robbing banks in the six-county area.

The Hound's siblings, however, were hoping Blago would have gotten the go-ahead to head to the NBC show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" because they complain they haven't seen a good reality show since Chuck Barris' "Gong Show". They just recounted the exploits of "Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine" and "The Unknown Comic" over Easter dinner recently.

Think it's tough on "Hell's Kitchen", not according to The Hound's brothers who maintain the "Gong Show" paved the way for the current reality show crop, including "The Biggest Loser". But The Hound digresses. The judge said he doesn't believe Blago understands the full weight of the charges against him.

Perhaps he's right. Welcome to the first unreality star. And, be careful, Blago, you just might end up being gonged.

Listening to Illinois lawmakers over the weekend on various radio programs talking about reform reminded The Hound about the infamous Chicago alderman, Paddy Bauler, who died in 1977. Asked about reform in the Windy City, Bauler replied with language no one would consider ciceronian: "Chicago ain't ready for reform."

Which brings up the obvious: Is Illinois ready for reform? Are the lawmakers who will be making those decisions in Springfield between now and November ready to not go for the gold? Especially when filing begins for the March 2010 primary at the end of December.

Gov. Pat Quinn's ballyhooed "reform commission" --- founded by none other than the governor in the wake of Rod Blagojevich, et. al., and chaired by former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins --- has offered a sweeping blueprint for change in the Land of Lincoln. Will legislators go for some of the recommendations, considering Quinn used to walk hand-in-hand with Blago?

Some of the commission's proposals include: Capping individual campaign contributions at $2,400; protecting procurement officials from political pressure; strengthening the Freedom of Information Act; requiring politicians to report $1,000 contributions within five working days; barring lobbyists from donating to political campaigns; disclosing all state subcontractors and lobbyists. The panel is expected to provide even more recommendations as it works through April.

Which brings The Hound back to the original question: Is Illinois ready for reform? The Hound will believe it when it happens.

Like tulips in spring, candidates will be all over the ballot today in the consolidated election where municipal, township, school, library and park district officials will be elected. Join The Hound for two live chats, 3 to 4 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m. today to discuss what looks to be a low-turnout election, according to the county clerk folks.

The Hound will bark with the best of you over the Route 53 referendum; the rough-and-tumble Waukegan mayoral contest; the equally tough Shields Township contest; Gurnee's three-way race; and much more. If fewer voters than ticks on The Hound turn out, we'll talk baseball or the latest on "American Idol."

So turn out and then tune in on The Hound's home Web site for our live bark.